Egypt's pro-democracy alliance calls for Tahrir protests

Alliance members, who have recently adopted the slogan "Cairo is the capital of the revolution," say they want to stage protests in Tahrir due to the square's iconic nature

Africa

07 Ekim 2013 Pazartesi 21:27

World Bulletin/News Desk

The National Alliance for the Defense of Legitimacy on Monday called on students to stage protests at universities across the nation on Tuesday and urged Egyptians to descend on Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday to protest the July 3 military ouster of elected President Mohamed Morsi.

"Tahrir Square should not be the preserve of a specific group," Alaa Abul-Nasr, secretary-general of the Construction and Development Party, one of the alliance's member-parties, told Anadolu Agency by phone.

He added: "We have the right to protest anywhere and at any time."

The alliance is a coalition of mainly Islamist movements and groups seen as the main support bloc for Morsi.

At least 53 people were killed and 271 injured on Sunday after security forces clashed with pro-democracy protesters trying to reach Cairo's Tahrir Square.

The demonstrations coincided with national celebrations of the 40th anniversary of Egypt's 1973 military victory against Israel and the subsequent liberation of the Sinai Peninsula.

Thousands of Egyptians were in Tahrir already celebrating the war anniversary, long considered a gala day for the Egyptian army.